DOCSLIB.ORG

The Indians of Bahapki and Mrs. Annie EK Bidwell

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Indians of Bahapki and Mrs. Annie EK Bidwell University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications, Department of History History, Department of December 1997 Resistance to Rescue: The Indians of Bahapki and Mrs. Annie E. K. Bidwell Margaret D. Jacobs University of Nebraska - Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historyfacpub Part of the History Commons Jacobs, Margaret D., "Resistance to Rescue: The Indians of Bahapki and Mrs. Annie E. K. Bidwell" (1997). Faculty Publications, Department of History. 16. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/historyfacpub/16 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the History, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications, Department of History by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Writing the Range: Race, Class, and Culture in the Women’s West, edited by Elizabeth Jameson and Susan Armitage (Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997), pp. 230–251. Copyright © 1997 University of Oklahoma Press. Used by permission. http://www.oupress.com/ Resistance to Rescue: The Indians of Bahapki and Mrs. Annie E. K. Bidwell MARGARET D. JACOBS Like a zoom lens on a camera, Margaret Jacobs gives us a close-up view of one example of the “civilizing “ interaction between Euro-Ameri- can and American Indian women described by Wendy Wall. Annie Bidwell, whose story is told here, was an exemplar of the nineteenth-century Euro- American female humanitarian reform impulse. She worked diligently to in- troduce Christianity and domesticity to the Maidu and Bahapki Indians who lived and worked for her husband at Rancho Chico, paying special attention to the women and children. Bidwell had no doubt that her insistence on ac- culturation was in their best interests. But from the perspective of the Indi- ans, she was a destroyer. Insofar as they could, they resisted her efforts to change their religion, their child-rearing practices, and their family relation- ships. Margaret Jacobs successfully “reads through” Bidwell’s own writings to document the ways in which the Indians Bidwell was trying to “rescue” in- stead subverted and quietly resisted her efforts. Jacobs’s success in showing us both sides of this interaction changes our understanding of Annie Bidwell. Jacobs does not dispute or disparage Bidwell’s humanitarian concern, but by looking at the Indian side of the sto- ry, she does clearly show that Bidwell was less effective than she thought. Be- cause Margaret Jacobs begins without assumptions of cultural superiority, she is able to show us how very complex Bidwell’s humanitarian “rescue ef- fort” really was. In the early 1890s, a group of California Indians who lived in a small vil- lage on General John Bidwell’s ranch in Chico, California, designed and car- ried out a Fourth of July parade. In an article in Overland Monthly, the gen- eral’s wife, Annie Bidwell, described this event. Leading the procession was a wagon bearing the Goddess of Liberty, portrayed by thirteen-year-old Mag- gie Lafonso, daughter of Holi Lafonso, headman of the Rancho Chico In- dians, and Amanda Wilson, Annie Bidwell’s personal maid. Wagons full of other Rancho Chico Indians as well as visiting Indians followed behind the Goddess of Liberty. According to Annie Bidwell, “The brass band, and the marshals on horseback presented a picture never to be forgotten. These very marshals were little unclad savages when my husband fi rst saw them,—now Resistance to Rescue 231 [they were] decorated with silk sashes sent to them by prominent gentlemen of Chico.” On seeing this procession, Annie Bidwell, who had labored for more than twenty years to bring these Indians the gospel and civilization, confessed, “This is worth a lifetime of work.”1 At the end of their parade through town, the Rancho Chico Indians and their visitors retired to a grove where they carried out a program of “prayer, music by band, hymns, patriotic songs, recitations by the children, reading of Declaration of Independence, and an oration by Mr. Dick Phillips, one of the middle-aged men. “In addition to the parade and the patriotic exercises,” all day a wonderful exhibit of Indian curios was displayed in the Chapel,” and “a foot race with a silver watch from a Chico jeweler for prize, closed the day’s sport.” The Indians culminated the celebration with an Indian dance in their Dance House that night. But lest her readers think that the Rancho Chico In- dians had reverted to heathenism after their day of civility, Annie Bidwell as- sured them that one of the men explained the dance as an event “to show the old and the new, and the new is better.”2 From the time she fi rst arrived on Rancho Chico in 1868, Annie Bidwell endeavored to “civilize,” Americanize, and Christianize the Indians who la- bored for her husband. Believing that women represented the key to chang- ing the morals, upbringing, and culture of the Indians, she particularly target- ed Indian women in her efforts. From her recounting of these Fourth of July events, it appears that Annie Bidwell had, indeed, triumphed. What better in- dication that Annie Bidwell had succeeded in her efforts than to show a group of Indians organizing and carrying out their own Fourth of July parade? What event could have provided a better symbol of their adoption of American cul- ture and its rituals? And with a thirteen-year-old Indian girl portraying the Goddess of Liberty, it appeared as if Annie Bidwell had, indeed, brought In- dian women “up” to white, middle-class Christian standards. In keeping with this interpretation, historians have lauded Annie Bidwell’s humanitarian efforts to bring civilization and progress to the Rancho Chico Indians. Valerie Mathes concludes that “Annie Bidwell provided a unique ex- ample of what personal endeavor and private philanthropy could accomplish in encouraging an Indian village to seek a place in the mainstream of Ameri- can life.”3 Lamenting the loss of their culture but expressing her approval of the Bidwells’ humanitarianism, Dorothy Hill remarks that “had it not been for the Bidwells’ interest, the Indians of Chico Rancheria would have experi- enced a more abrupt, painful, but inevitable change in their lifestyle.”4 Such a reading leaves unexamined the nature of the interaction between Annie Bidwell and the Indians at Rancho Chico. It fails to examine why An- nie Bidwell felt it necessary to undermine native culture and replace it with her own notions of civilization. Hill’s and Mathes’s interpretations also ne- glect the ingenious ways in which the Rancho Chico Indians, like other Na- tive Americans, managed to sustain vital aspects of their culture and identi- ty through adaptation and accommodation. In this essay, I aim to place Annie 232 Margaret D. Jacobs in Writing the Range Bidwell in the context of late-nineteenth-century middle-class women’s re- form movements and to recover the many ways in which Indian women and men at Rancho Chico challenged Annie Bidwell’s attempts at acculturation. Such events as the Fourth of July parade illuminate how the Rancho Chico Indians manipulated and appropriated the icons of American acculturation as a means to preserve their culture. Annie Bidwell came to California by virtue of her marriage to Califor- nia pioneer John Bidwell, who fi rst ventured west as a member of the Wil- kes Expedition in 1841.5 The land known as Rancho Chico that John Bidwell eventually acquired lay within the territory of the Northwestern Maidu group in the Sacramento Valley of northeastern California.6 According to Bidwell, he fi rst encountered the Maidu Indians who lived at a village known as Mechoopda in 1847 when he came to survey Rancho Chico and other ranch- es in northern California.7 In 1848, Bidwell found gold on the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Faced with a shortage of labor, Bidwell claims he “had to use Indians” to help him clear brush and to mine gold. While Bidwell paid his laborers with beads and clothes, he reportedly mined one hundred thousand dollars worth of gold dust.8 In just two years after the discovery of gold, the white population in Cali- fornia increased by more than a hundred thousand. The population of the Sac- ramento Valley alone surged from a few hundred to twenty or thirty thousand. The pressure the new white miners put on the land had devastating consequenc- es for northern California natives. As they killed deer, duck, rabbit, and other game, the miners deprived Indians of their customary diet. In addition, they up- set natural habitats with their mining operations and introduced livestock that devoured the plants, roots, grasses, seeds, and acorns upon which the Indians relied.9 Before the gold rush, Indians in California numbered about 150,000; by the 1850s, they had suffered an 80 percent decrease in population to 30,000.10 In addition to destroying the natural habitat of northern California Indians, incoming miners and settlers also dispossessed them of their land. Those min- ers who did not fi nd their fortunes in the mines sought to make their living as farmers on plots of land they simply claimed as squatters.11 Though Bidwell had made a fortune in mining, in 1849 he decided to abandon the industry in favor of purchasing Rancho Chico, a Mexican land grant of more than twen- ty-two thousand acres that encompassed the Mechoopda village of Maidu In- dians.12 As he had relied on Indians to labor in his surveying and mining op- erations, Bidwell again turned to Indians to work on Rancho Chico.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • National Prohibition Convention, Music Hall, Cincinnati
    Wright State University CORE Scholar Martha McClellan Brown Correspondence Martha McClellan Brown Papers (MS-147) 6-16-1892 National Prohibition Convention, Music Hall, Cincinnati Oscar B. Todhunter Follow this and additional works at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/ special_ms147_correspondence Part of the Women's History Commons Repository Citation Todhunter , O. B. (1892). National Prohibition Convention, Music Hall, Cincinnati. This Letter is brought to you for free and open access by the Martha McClellan Brown Papers (MS-147) at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Martha McClellan Brown Correspondence by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. I I NATIOl'JAL PROHIBllflON -CONVENTION, CO M MITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS: I PRINTING COMMITTEE: J. B. MARTIN, Chairman, H. T. OGDEN, Chairman, 29 West Fifth Street. MUSIC HALL, CINCINNATI, 65 West Fourth Street. HALL COMMITTEE: MRS. M. McCLELLAN BROWN, Secretary, DR. J. A. THOMPSON, Chairman, Wesleyan College. 154 West Eighth Street. SAMUEL '9ELLS, Treasurer, DECORATION COMMITTEE: 67 Vine Street. JUNE 29-30, 1892. MRS. L. s. PACKER, Chairman, 29 Saunrlers Street. RECEPTION COMMITTEE : FINANCE COMMITTEE: E. J. MORRIS, Chairman, REV. M. C. LOCKWOOD, Chairman, 10 West Third Street. 2 Wesley Avenue. PRESS CO MMITTEE: MUSIC COMMITTEE: OSCAR B. 'l'ODHUNfER, Chairman, JAS. H. FILLMORE, Chairman, . 185 Race Street. 141 West Sixth Street. To Editors: Returns already received from the press of the country indicate that the National Prohibition Convention is attracting a great deal of attention this year, and will be better reported than any of the preceding five National Conventions of the party.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Maryland's Electoral College Meetings 1789-2016
    A History of Maryland’s Electoral College Meetings 1789-2016 A History of Maryland’s Electoral College Meetings 1789-2016 Published by: Maryland State Board of Elections Linda H. Lamone, Administrator Project Coordinator: Jared DeMarinis, Director Division of Candidacy and Campaign Finance Published: October 2016 Table of Contents Preface 5 The Electoral College – Introduction 7 Meeting of February 4, 1789 19 Meeting of December 5, 1792 22 Meeting of December 7, 1796 24 Meeting of December 3, 1800 27 Meeting of December 5, 1804 30 Meeting of December 7, 1808 31 Meeting of December 2, 1812 33 Meeting of December 4, 1816 35 Meeting of December 6, 1820 36 Meeting of December 1, 1824 39 Meeting of December 3, 1828 41 Meeting of December 5, 1832 43 Meeting of December 7, 1836 46 Meeting of December 2, 1840 49 Meeting of December 4, 1844 52 Meeting of December 6, 1848 53 Meeting of December 1, 1852 55 Meeting of December 3, 1856 57 Meeting of December 5, 1860 60 Meeting of December 7, 1864 62 Meeting of December 2, 1868 65 Meeting of December 4, 1872 66 Meeting of December 6, 1876 68 Meeting of December 1, 1880 70 Meeting of December 3, 1884 71 Page | 2 Meeting of January 14, 1889 74 Meeting of January 9, 1893 75 Meeting of January 11, 1897 77 Meeting of January 14, 1901 79 Meeting of January 9, 1905 80 Meeting of January 11, 1909 83 Meeting of January 13, 1913 85 Meeting of January 8, 1917 87 Meeting of January 10, 1921 88 Meeting of January 12, 1925 90 Meeting of January 2, 1929 91 Meeting of January 4, 1933 93 Meeting of December 14, 1936
    [Show full text]
  • H. Doc. 108-222
    THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS MARCH 4, 1865, TO MARCH 3, 1867 FIRST SESSION—December 4, 1865, to July 28, 1866 SECOND SESSION—December 3, 1866, to March 3, 1867 SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE—March 4, 1865, to March 11, 1865 VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES—ANDREW JOHNSON, 1 of Tennessee PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE—LAFAYETTE S. FOSTER, 2 of Connecticut; BENJAMIN F. WADE, 3 of Ohio SECRETARY OF THE SENATE—JOHN W. FORNEY, of Pennsylvania SERGEANT AT ARMS OF THE SENATE—GEORGE T. BROWN, of Illinois SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES—SCHUYLER COLFAX, 4 of Indiana CLERK OF THE HOUSE—EDWARD MCPHERSON, 5 of Pennsylvania SERGEANT AT ARMS OF THE HOUSE—NATHANIEL G. ORDWAY, of New Hampshire DOORKEEPER OF THE HOUSE—IRA GOODNOW, of Vermont POSTMASTER OF THE HOUSE—JOSIAH GIVEN ALABAMA James Dixon, Hartford GEORGIA SENATORS SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES Vacant Vacant Henry C. Deming, Hartford REPRESENTATIVES 6 Samuel L. Warner, Middletown REPRESENTATIVES Vacant Augustus Brandegee, New London Vacant John H. Hubbard, Litchfield ARKANSAS ILLINOIS SENATORS SENATORS Vacant DELAWARE Lyman Trumbull, Chicago Richard Yates, Jacksonville REPRESENTATIVES SENATORS REPRESENTATIVES Vacant Willard Saulsbury, Georgetown George R. Riddle, Wilmington John Wentworth, Chicago CALIFORNIA John F. Farnsworth, St. Charles SENATORS REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE Elihu B. Washburne, Galena James A. McDougall, San Francisco John A. Nicholson, Dover Abner C. Harding, Monmouth John Conness, Sacramento Ebon C. Ingersoll, Peoria Burton C. Cook, Ottawa REPRESENTATIVES FLORIDA Henry P. H. Bromwell, Charleston Donald C. McRuer, San Francisco Shelby M. Cullom, Springfield William Higby, Calaveras SENATORS Lewis W. Ross, Lewistown John Bidwell, Chico Vacant 7 Anthony Thornton, Shelbyville Vacant 8 Samuel S.
    [Show full text]
  • Strategic Positioning and Campaigning
    1 Introduction To give a sense of the politics of extreme parties, the Appendix lists all candidates in U.S. presidential elections who won at least half a percent of the popular vote. For each election year, the table lists candidates by my reading of their ideology, with the most conservative candidate listed at the top, and the most liberal candidate listed at the bottom. Candidates not belonging to one of the two major parties are shown with an asterisk after the party affiliation. Also shown is the percentage of the popular vote each won. The data begin with the election of 1832, the first election in which virtually all states chose presidential electors by popular vote. Ordering parties by ideology entails some subjective judgment. A prin- cipal difficulty is that for much of the nineteenth century slavery and the consequences of the Civil War were the main issues, whereas in the twenti- eth century economic issues can distinguish parties. I classify Republicans as more liberal than Democrats through the election of 1872. From 1876 (when Reconstruction ended) and thereafter I classify Republicans as more conservative than Democrats. Two features are of note. • Third parties, even popular ones, rarely become major parties. Indeed, only one minor party, the Republican party, ever became a major party. • Most small parties have extreme ideologies, in the sense of not lying between the ideologies of the two major parties. Of the 41 elections, 28 had small parties which won at least 0.5 percent of the vote. Of these 28 elections, only four had a moderate party.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes of a Voyage to California Via Cape Horn, Together with Scenes in El Dorado, in the Years of 1849-'50
    Notes of a voyage to California via Cape Horn, together with scenes in El Dorado, in the years of 1849-'50. With an appendix containing reminiscences ... together with the articles of association and roll of members of "The associated pioneers of the territorial days of California." By Samuel C. Upham. With forty-five illustrations NOTES OF A VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA VIA CAPE HORN, TOGETHER WITH SCENES IN EL DORADO, IN THE YEARS 1849-'50. WITH AN APPENDIX Containing Reminiscences of Pioneer Journalism in California—California Day at the Centennial Exhibition, Philadelphia, Sept. 9th, 1876—Re-Unions and Banquets of the Associated Pioneers of California, in New York, January 18th, 1877 and 1878—Celebration of Admission Day, at Long Branch, N. J., Sept. 8th, 1877— Reception to GENERAL JOHN C. FREMONT, Aug. 1st, 1878 and to Hon. PHILIP A. ROACH, June 19th, 1876—Dedication of the Lick Monument at Fredericksburg, Pa., April 22d, 1878— Notes of a voyage to California via Cape Horn, together with scenes in El Dorado, in the years of 1849-'50. With an appendix containing reminiscences ... together with the articles of association and roll of members of "The associated pioneers of the territorial days of California." By Samuel C. Upham. With forty-five illustrations http://www.loc.gov/resource/calbk.149 Extracts from the Manuscript Journal of the “KING's ORPHAN,” in the year 1843—Pioneer and Kindred Organizations; TOGETHER WITH THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AND ROLL OF MEMBERS OF “THE ASSOCIATED PIONEERS OF THE TERRITORIAL DAYS OF CALIFORNIA.” By SAMUEL C. UPHAM. WITH FORTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS.
    [Show full text]
  • The Chico Historian
    1 The Chico Historian Volume 18 2008 Editors Bryce Havens & David Wysocki Editorial Board Brett Belanger Meghan Bigley Dillon Carroll Samantha Johnston James Morey Jesse Pluim Garret Root Faculty Advisors Chico Historian Dr. Stephen Lewis Phi Alpha Theta Dr. Stephen Lewis Published by the Alpha Delta Omicron Chapter PHI ALPHA THETA Department of History California State University, Chico 2 Dedicated in Loving Memory of Professor Weikun Cheng, 1953­2007 3 Obituary Weikun Cheng was born on August 25, 1953, and grew up in Beijing. After he finished his freshman year of high school, turmoil in China forced him to delay his formal education for nearly a decade. The policies of the Cultural Revolution closed down all schools, including his. Two years later, when Weikun would have graduated from high school, he was sent to southern China to work on a state-run sugar plantation. He later spent two years in the army, where his commanders were quick to recognize his culinary skills. He soon became the lead chef of his company. As Weikun often told his students, the only way that he and his friends could read books during this time was to break into public libraries, all of which had been closed as part of the Cultural Revolution. In 1977, China’s government reopened the universities. One year later, and with only one year of formal high school training, Weikun took the university entrance exam and passed. He studied History at Sichuan University and received his Bachelor’s degree in 1982. He returned to Beijing and completed a Master’s degree at the People’s University of China in 1984.
    [Show full text]
  • Bidwell Mansionstate Historic Park
    Our Mission Bidwell The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by The stately Bidwell Mansion helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most Mansion embodies a State Historic Park valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality great love story—of a man outdoor recreation. for his land and for his wife, and of the couple’s mutual love for their new California State Parks supports equal access. state—California. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (530) 895-6144. This publication is available in alternate formats by contacting: CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P. O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.TM Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park 525 Esplanade Chico, CA 95926 (530) 895-6144 Courtesy of California History Room, California State Library © 2009 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper Sacramento, California W alk into Chico’s Bidwell native people changed Rancho del Arroyo Chico Mansion State Historic Park forever. An enduring By the 1850s, Bidwell had purchased more to relive a part of California’s relationship was than 30,000 acres. He then built a general rich early history. The established when John store, a hotel, post office and flour mill. mansion was headquarters Bidwell was befriended About his land, Bidwell wrote: “The for John Bidwell.
    [Show full text]
  • American Prohibition Year Book for 1910
    UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LIBRARY KtS THIS VOLUME m ^,„^ REVIEWED FOR mmwwa Or-:-- B^ pHESERVftTION DATEt |2^|i|i( " American Prohibition Year Book For 1910 Two hundred and fifty pages of the Latest Data, Tables, Diagrams, Fact and Argu- ment, Condensed for Ready Reference. ILLUSTRATED Editors CHARLES R. JONES ^^-• ^-A) ALONZO E. WILSOI^ V FRED^^Lpk^UIRES_.,.. cents P^I^^r i^nts ; Pai)ei;;\ per dozen, Cloth, 50 ; ^ ^ Vv" $2.^W^ostpaid) ' fN ^t-' Published by S. \ THE NATIONAL PROHfBKTigN PRESS 92LaSalle-Street, qiJc^slU. \ ^ \ ' » - \^:^v^ Copyright, 1910, by the National Prohibition Press, 4 General Neal Bow. Patriot, prophet, warrior, statesman, reformer; author of the Maine Law, 1851, the first state-wide prohibition statute; Prohibition candidate for Presi- dent .in 1880; born, March 20, 1804; died, October 4, 1897. " Every branch of legitimate trade has a direct pecuniary interest in the absolute suppression of the liquor traffic. Every man engaged, directly or in- directly, in the liquor trade, whether he knows it and means it or not, is an enemy to society in all its interests, and inflicts a mischief upon every in- ' dividual in it. The trade ' is an infinite evil to the country and an infinite misery to the people." 2 — — ! After Forty Years. [Written in honor of the fortieth anniversary of the National Prohi- bition movement celebrated in Chicago Sept. 24.^1909.] The faith that keeps on fighting is the one That keeps on living—yes, and growing great! The hope that sees the work yet to be done, The patience that can bid the soul to wait These three—faith, hope and patience—they have made The record of the years that swiftly sped.
    [Show full text]
  • 3 Department of Development Services Tim Snellings, Director Pete Calarco, Assistant Director
    3 Department of Development Services Tim Snellings, Director Pete Calarco, Assistant Director 7 County Center Drive T: 530.552.3700 buttecounty.net/dds Oroville, California 95965 F: 530.538.7785 BUTTE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION NOTICE OF INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TENTATIVE PARCEL MAP TPM18-0002 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Butte County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider Tentative Parcel Map TPM18-0002 for Dudley and Judith Clark on May 9, 2019, at 9:00 a.m. or shortly thereafter, in the Butte County Board of Supervisors’ Room, County Administration Center, 25 County Center Drive, Oroville, California as follows: Project Information: Project: Tentative Parcel Map TPM18-0002 (Dudley and Judith Clark) Location: The project site is located at 5000 Will T Road, 3,000 feet west from Meridian Road, and 4 miles north of the City of Chico. APN: 047-100-202 Proposal: The applicant is proposing a Tentative Parcel Map to subdivide a 40.15-acre property, located in the AG-20 (Agriculture, 20-acre min. parcel size) zone, into two parcels of 20.08 acres (Parcel 1) and 20.07 acres (Parcel 2). The applicant is requesting approval of an Unusual Circumstances Review (UCR) to reduce the 300 ft. Agricultural Buffer setback for future residential development on both proposed parcels, in accordance with Butte County Code (BCC) sec. 24-84 (Exceptions to Agricultural Buffer Setback). The applicant is also requesting an Exception from County road improvements to expand the width of Meridian Meadows Lane to 10 feet wide where a width of 20 feet is required with 2-foot wide road shoulders and an aggregate base.
    [Show full text]
  • 2013-2014 Wisconsin Blue Book
    STATISTICS: HISTORY 677 HIGHLIGHTS OF HISTORY IN WISCONSIN History — On May 29, 1848, Wisconsin became the 30th state in the Union, but the state’s written history dates back more than 300 years to the time when the French first encountered the diverse Native Americans who lived here. In 1634, the French explorer Jean Nicolet landed at Green Bay, reportedly becoming the first European to visit Wisconsin. The French ceded the area to Great Britain in 1763, and it became part of the United States in 1783. First organized under the Northwest Ordinance, the area was part of various territories until creation of the Wisconsin Territory in 1836. Since statehood, Wisconsin has been a wheat farming area, a lumbering frontier, and a preeminent dairy state. Tourism has grown in importance, and industry has concentrated in the eastern and southeastern part of the state. Politically, the state has enjoyed a reputation for honest, efficient government. It is known as the birthplace of the Republican Party and the home of Robert M. La Follette, Sr., founder of the progressive movement. Political Balance — After being primarily a one-party state for most of its existence, with the Republican and Progressive Parties dominating during portions of the state’s first century, Wisconsin has become a politically competitive state in recent decades. The Republicans gained majority control in both houses in the 1995 Legislature, an advantage they last held during the 1969 session. Since then, control of the senate has changed several times. In 2009, the Democrats gained control of both houses for the first time since 1993; both houses returned to Republican control in 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Statistics of the United States, 1789
    Chapter P. Government (Series P 1-277) Elections and Politics: Series P 1~61 U. S. Congress, Veto Messages . .. ,49th Congress, 2d Session, Miscellaneous Document No. 53. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS AND VETOES (P 1-39) The Constitution provides, article I, section 7, that nolegisla­ P 1-26. Methods of electing presidential electors, 1788-1836. tive bill may become law until approved by the President or, if SOURCE: Paullin, Charles 0., Atlas of the Historical Geography of disapproved and returned to the House of its origin, it is repassed the United States, Carnegie Institution of Washington and Ameri­ in each House by a two-thirds vote. A bill may also become law Can Geographical Society of New York, 1932, p. 89. The electors, if the President fails to return it to the House of its origin within now elected by popular vote in all States, are selected, according 10 days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to to the Constitution, "in such manner as the legislature thereof him. If the Congress adjourns within the interval of 10 days, a bill may direct." The development of political-party direction of the disapproved by the executive does not become law and is said to electoral coilege was not anticipated in the Constitution, and dur­ be Hpocket vetoed." ing the early years of the republic, electors were chosen in the sever·al States by a number of different devices. The principal CONGRESSIONAL ACTIVITY AND PARTY AFFILIATIONS (P 40-56) devices were: Election by the State legislature itself in some P 40-49. Congressional bills, acts, and resolutions, 1789-1946.
    [Show full text]
  • Sitting Bull Tatanka-Iyotanka (1831-1890)
    Brigham Young 1801-1877 After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Gazing over the parched earth of the remote location, Young declared, “This is the place,” and the pioneers began preparations for the thousands of Mormon migrants who would follow. Seeking religious and political freedom, the Mormons began planning their great migration from the east after the murder of Joseph Smith, the Christian sect’s founder and first leader. Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, in 1805. In 1827, he declared that he had been visited by a Christian angel named Moroni, who showed him an ancient Hebrew text that had been lost for 1,500 years. The holy text, supposedly engraved on gold plates by a Native American prophet named Mormon in the fifth century A.D., told the story of Israelite peoples who had lived in America in ancient times. During the next few years, Smith dictated an English translation of this text to his wife and other scribes, and in 1830 The Book of Mormon was published. In the same year, Smith founded the Church of Christ–later known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–in Fayette, New York. The religion rapidly gained converts, and Smith set up Mormon communities in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. However, the Christian sect was also heavily criticized for its unorthodox practices, which included polygamy. In 1844, the threat of mob violence prompted Smith to call out a militia in the Mormon town of Nauvoo, Illinois.
    [Show full text]